Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 224 Begging for mercy

"Mrs. Jiang, please come this way."

Along the way, Eunuch Fushun was particularly silent, but he did see that Madam Jiang casually took off a jade pendant from her waist and put it into her arms.

He also glanced at the jade pendant. It was not of the best quality. One had to be cautious when meeting the emperor.

Thinking of this, Eunuch Fushun's gaze couldn't help but move around Shen Jiasui's face.

When Lord Jiang was emerging, His Majesty had tried to arrange a marriage for him several times, but Lord Jiang remained calm and refused again and again.

This dragged on until he reached the age of twenty, and who would have thought that Lord Jiang would have his own ideas.

This girl from the Shen family is indeed beautiful, but considering Lord Jiang's temperament and vision, appearance alone is not enough.

This time, I am meeting the emperor... I wonder if Mrs. Jiang can handle it.

When he brought the eldest princess to see the emperor, he still had the courage to give her a reminder.

After all, the eldest princess has seen all kinds of storms, so even if she doesn't understand, she won't lose her composure.

But Mrs. Jiang is so young and her temperament is unknown. Fu Shun is also accompanying the king and the tiger, so he dare not risk his own life.

"Mrs. Jiang, please—"

Soon, after passing many pavilions and towers, Shen Jiasui was led to a pavilion by the lake.

Emperor Sheng sat firmly in the middle, his dark dragon robe making his face look even more stern, his eyes like the abyss, preventing anyone from looking into them.

Shen Jiasui only glanced at him from a distance, then lowered his eyes. Eunuch Fushun led him into the pavilion and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, long live your Majesty."

His voice was clear and respectful, and his behavior was proper, without any sign of fear.

Emperor Sheng's gaze fell lightly on Shen Jiasui, examining him calmly.

The atmosphere in the pavilion seems peaceful, but there is an indescribable solemnity.

Emperor Sheng did not call Shen Jiasui to stand up, so Shen Jiasui knelt until Emperor Sheng's voice, tinged with emotion, sounded:

"That day in the Imperial Garden, when I met Madam Jiang, I had no idea that you and Xiuzhi had such a connection."

"Your Majesty, I never expected to have such a blessing."

Shen Jiasui answered along the lines of Emperor Sheng's words.

Emperor Sheng nodded slightly and finally said, "Stand up."

Shen Jiasui hurriedly thanked him, but after standing up, he moved his lips again, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't dare to speak directly because of the majesty of heaven.

Eunuch Fushun had just realized that Madam Jiang's behavior was impeccable, but when he saw this scene, he immediately frowned.

Don't be a beauty in vain. You should know that in front of His Majesty, the more you talk, the more you talk——

Shen Jiasui fell back to his knees with a thud.

When Eunuch Fushun saw this, he closed his eyes slightly and said to himself: It's over.

The next moment, Shen Jiasui knelt on the ground and said:

"Today, I am honored to see His Majesty thanks to His Majesty's grace. I, your humble servant, boldly ask Your Majesty to consider the Imperial Tutor's past merits and show leniency in his punishment!"

Emperor Sheng raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, then curled his lips slightly and said calmly, "Many people have pleaded for the Imperial Tutor today, but all the ministers have said that this was definitely not done by the Imperial Tutor."

"How come Madam Jiang seems to have already confirmed the Imperial Tutor's guilt?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiasui realized that he had said the wrong thing because he was too anxious. His body stiffened and his face turned pale.

Emperor Sheng brushed off his hem and continued casually, "I heard Xiuzhi requested an audience several times outside the palace last night, and Madam Jiang is here too?"

"After you two left, one went to Censor Zhang's house, and the other returned to the Shen Mansion..."

When Shen Jiasui heard this, he suddenly looked up, with a hint of horror in his eyes, but Emperor Sheng continued:

"Xiuzhi should be heading to the Dali Temple right now, right?"

Shen Jiasui saw that he could not hide anything from Emperor Sheng, and his face was filled with fear, so he immediately bowed his head and said the truth:

"I dare not hide the truth from Your Majesty. Yesterday's incident happened suddenly, and my wife and I are already deeply disturbed."

"But my husband knows the Imperial Tutor best, and he says he would never do such a disloyal and unrighteous thing."

"I am a dull woman, and I do not know what my husband is thinking. I just heard him say after a long moment of deep thought that this move might be the Emperor's good intention, for... is..."

"What is it?" Emperor Sheng asked in a calm voice.

Shen Jiasui gritted his teeth and answered bravely, "It's for His Majesty."

"But to execute first and report later is indeed deceiving the emperor."

"My husband has received the kindness of the Imperial Tutor, and I dare not disappoint him, so I have parted ways with him."

"As a woman, I don't understand what my husband is talking about. I only know that deceiving the emperor is no joke. I couldn't sleep all night because of this."

"Today, I have the honor of seeing Your Majesty. I cannot hide my worries, so I have the audacity to plead for mercy."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor has been so dedicated and loyal. Could you please show some leniency and allow the Imperial Preceptor to live out his days in peace?"

As Shen Jiasui spoke, he seemed to gradually find his confidence. At this moment, his face was firm and he touched the ground with his forehead.

Emperor Sheng lowered his eyes and looked at Shen Jiasui quietly, as if he wanted to find some flaws or abnormalities in her expression and behavior.

Eunuch Fushun was still shaking his head in his heart, but after hearing what Shen Jiasui said, he gradually understood some of the meaning, and his eyes lit up slightly.

Emperor Sheng was silent for a long time. When he spoke again, his tone was slightly slower. "I heard that the Imperial Master admired Madam Jiang very much and even taught her all the skills of rubbing inscriptions?"

Shen Jiasui nodded upon hearing this and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Tutor has been very caring towards me. He not only taught me how to rub inscriptions, but he even gave me the family heirloom jade."

"I think that at that time, the Imperial Tutor was willing to sacrifice himself for His Majesty, but I, a fool, did not understand."

As Shen Jiasui spoke, he took out the jade pendant from his arms.

When Eunuch Fushun saw this, his eyebrows jumped, and he confirmed that Mrs. Jiang's words and actions were all well thought out, and not as reckless and stupid as he thought.

Emperor Sheng raised his chin slightly, and Fushun immediately understood. He stepped forward, took the jade pendant, and presented it to the emperor.

Emperor Sheng looked up and when he saw the flamboyantly flying character "Lin" above, his heart trembled.

This is...the teacher's handwriting from his early years.

Looking at the color and luster of the jade pendant, it is obvious that it has been rubbed and played with for many years.

Emperor Sheng looked at him for a long time, and when he looked away again, his expression softened.

"I will make my own decision regarding the Imperial Preceptor. Xiuzhi is still on his marriage leave. Madam Jiang, please tell him to take a good rest."

After saying this, Emperor Sheng stood up and walked away, saying calmly:

"Fushun, escort Madam Jiang out of the palace."

Shen Jiasui bowed hastily: "Farewell, Your Majesty."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment until Eunuch Fushun returned, bent down, handed the jade pendant back, and said respectfully:

"Madam Jiang, the emperor has already left. Please get up quickly."

Shen Jiasui slowly stood up and followed Eunuch Fushun out of the palace. She knew that at this moment, many eyes were staring at her, both openly and covertly.

So she slowed down her pace and tried to keep her face calm.

But only she herself knew that her heart was beating like a drum. Everything that happened when she met the emperor just now was like a sharp knife hanging over her head. She was still in fear.

On the way to see the emperor just now, her mind was racing and she was almost drained of thoughts.

The emperor must have seen everything she and Axun did at the palace gate last night, so he would not have missed her going back to the Shen family and Axun going to look for Censor Zhang.

But even so, early this morning, the emperor personally appointed Censor Zhang to thoroughly investigate the case, which shows that he is determined to get rid of Cui and to establish Prince Rui.

Then the emperor summoned her, probably for two reasons: one was to confirm the teacher's true intentions, and the other was to test Axun's attitude and next steps.

By pleading for mercy, she actually revealed two things that the emperor wanted to know:

The teacher is devoted to the emperor, and A Xun only wants to help the teacher get what he wants. In the final analysis, isn't it all for the emperor?

Judging from the emperor's attitude just now, I think she has passed the test for the time being.

And she escaped unscathed this time, and Concubine Shu's people should have seen it, and Minister Cui and Prince Rui would soon know about it too...

In this battle of wits and courage, Shen Jiasui was already considered extremely intelligent, but for Emperor Sheng, there was another layer.

The reason why he helped Jiang Xun and Shen Jiasui to be together was to keep Jiang Xun's "weakness".

Now that the two are married, he has to take a closer look at the temperament and abilities of this "weakness" so that he can know how to exploit it in the future.

All parties are competing with each other and giving their all.

Shen Jiasui relied on his strength to walk out of the vermilion palace wall without changing his expression.

Standing at the palace gate, she raised her head slightly and felt that the sky outside the palace was especially brighter.